Comments Off on World Down’s syndrome Day 2018 – a retrospective collective

Happy World Down’s syndrome Day! Time for my annual love fest – click below to see a collection of the incredible families I’ve written about in the last year. I feel so incredibly fortunate to be able to use my pen (alright, keyboard) to celebrate so many inspiring young people. These are the game-changers, the rule-breakers, the cliche-defiers – while there’s never been more urgency to highlight what Down’s syndrome actually is (and not what medical professionals would STILL have us fear it is) these little legends are going about their legendaryness with aplomb. Just by being who they are, the ripple effect across society says We. Are. Awesome. So while NIPT (noninvasive prenatal testing) looms into view, the Down’s syndrome community are here to say #wouldntchangeathing.

For more information about Down’s syndrome, visit www.futureofdowns.com an online community offering friendly support for parents and an up to date, balanced view of life with the condition.

So, so proud of Kathleen! Such an honour to get to write about amazing women every day. Do I have the best job in the world, or what?! Kathleen and her mum Denise invited me into their world and let me champion their lives. Now more than ever, we need to show society that Down’s syndrome is nothing to be feared. Down’s syndrome is to be celebrated. Quick, before NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) causes a dramatic decrease in the number of people born with Down’s syndrome. As Kathleen will tell you, her life rocks.

Please buy Best Magazine this week to read all about Kathleen. She’s going places!

I have such a soft spot for writing about animals and in yesterday’s Love Sunday, I was able to celebrate a gorgeous, patient and wise dog called Suzie, who along with her human companion Kelly, fosters kittens in New York. Kelly has been fostering kittens for a few years and at first thought she’d have to keep the kittens away from Suzie. But Suzie proved to be an asset to the fostering process, showing the kittens that she could be their climbing frame, their protector, their hug blanket!

The story behind the fostering makes for difficult reading – kittens and cats are dumped and neglected all over the city and Kelly works tirelessly to raise awareness of this, while looking after as many kittens as she can. The story of Suzie the kitten whisperer will melt your heart! You can read the online version here and follow Kelly and chums on Instagram here.